China pledges USD25m more to Rwanda

GOVERNMENT

China has pledged additional grants and loans to Rwanda, during a visit to China by the Rwandan President.

President Paul Kagame was received by China's Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao at his guest house for a courtesy call and discussion on bilateral relations in his hometown of Tianjin. With over 200 million dollars invested in Rwanda and over 200 jobs created, the Chinese government currently supports Rwanda in infrastructure, health, agriculture, ICT and education sectors.

The bilateral meeting was attended by Rwanda's Ambassador to China, Francois Ngarambe, Minister of Finance, John Rwangombwa and acting CEO of RDB, Clare Akamanzi. The discussion between the two Heads of States expressed their satisfaction with the current cooperation between nations. “The two leaders committed to ensuring that the current relationship remains one that is mutually beneficial for both the people of Rwanda and China,” Ambassador Ngarambe explained.

Both leaders pledged to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation with China pledging an additional USD25 million in grants and interest free loans. In a clear example of commitment to bilateral cooperation, China committed to removing tariffs for all Rwandan exports beginning in 2013.

Regarding the situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Prime Minister also expressed his support for a peaceful process in the region.

China's cooperation with Rwanda has continuously grown stronger and is likely to increase in the future as China continues to invest in areas that contribute to the economic growth and transformation of Rwanda.

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